In grades three and four, we have begun our small steps toward learning about peer mediation. This year, we are using a contemplative approach. While listening, restating, reflecting, and finding solutions to conflicts are all vital components of this process, with a contemplative approach we take a closer look at our steps and discover how this process relates to our whole life. As we make connections to experiences with ourselves, our families, our community, our world, and nature, we begin to open our hearts and minds to finding greater meaning and purpose for our lives.
We played a game called "Who Am I Like?" which included a list of statements. Some items on the list included--
Someone with a birthday in the same month as you.
Someone who has the same hobby as you.
Someone who uses the same brand of toothpaste as you.
Someone who enjoys reading the same kind of books as you do.
Someone who was born outside this state.
Someone who is your friend.
The children walked around in CE class and began searching for someone who had similarities with them. The excitement was high as they sought who they could connect with. At the end of the activity as we debriefed, the one comment that was heard most often was "I never knew 'so and so' was like me!" The children discovered that to find out more about someone, we can ask questions to get to know them better. With our world at our finger tips, and technology linking communities so easily, it is important to strengthen our interpersonal and intrapersonal skills by learning to communicate within ourselves and reach out to others peacefully and with respect.
The fifth graders are now into their third week as Peace Team. Mrs. Johnson and I did a comics activity with them to reflect on their experiences and feelings during these past three weeks. I was truly inspired and enlightened by what I learned from each one of their comics. The facial expressions, the dialogue, and the feelings expressed greeted me with a tremendous learning experience! Through their comics, I learned how they felt and what they were discovering about being of service with our school community. There were feelings of joy and excitement, as well as frustration, anger, loneliness, sadness. All these feelings are indeed part of being of service. Feelings of frustration, anger, loneliness, and sadness, often called the "shadow side of service," does exist but we sometimes ignore these feelings or feel uncomfortable talking about it for whatever reason. However, from this "shadow" we learn hope, faith, and love--as we continue to be of service even when we feel like we don't want to--feeling our hearts opening wider, and allowing compassion and empathy to develop.
This week we are setting goals for being of service and looking at developing three personal areas... our attitude, words, and actions.
Shirley Rivera
CE/Counseling
"The raw elements are already there, waiting to be mined. Contemplative education is the chisel, the sander, the file that gives shape to the courage in your veins. Learn, as Gandhi said, how to 'become the change you wish to see in the world." -- Naropa
